Plurality of granules comprising a ceramic core having an outer surface and a shell on and surrounding the core, wherein the core comprises first ceramic particles bound together with a first inorganic binder, wherein the first inorganic binder comprises reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the shell comprises at least a first concentric layer, wherein the first layer comprises a second inorganic binder and optionally second ceramic particles, wherein if present the second ceramic particles are bound together with the second inorganic binder, wherein the second inorganic binder comprises reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein for a given granule, the first ceramic particles are present in a first weight percent with respect to the total weight of the core and the second ceramic particles, if present in the first layer of the same granule are in a second weight percent with respect to the total weight of the first layer, wherein for a given granule, the first weight percent is greater than the second weight percent, and wherein the granules have a minimum Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A method of producing a melt infiltrated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article that includes the steps of: forming a ceramic fiber preform; optionally, rigidizing the ceramic fiber preform with a fiber interphase coating via a Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI) process, infiltrating a ceramic slurry into the porous body or preform, conducting one or more secondary operations, and finally, melt infiltrating the preform with molten silicon or a silicon alloy to form the CMC article. The infiltration of a ceramic slurry into a ceramic fiber preform to form a green body is performed along with the use of convection and/or conduction as heat transfer mechanisms, such that the ceramic slurry does not require the incorporation of a pre-gelation material in order for the slurry to remain within the green body during subsequent processing steps.

A solid state electrolyte material including a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material including a decontaminated surface thickness. The decontaminated surface thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm. The decontaminated surface thickness may be greater than or equal to 1 nm. The decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material may be selected from the group consisting of Li.sub.7La.sub.3Zr.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLZO), Li.sub.5La.sub.3Ta.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLTO), Li.sub.6La.sub.2CaTa.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLCTO), Li.sub.6La.sub.2ANb.sub.2O.sub.12 (A is Ca or Sr), Li.sub.1+xAl.sub.xGe.sub.2-x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LAGP), Li.sub.14Al.sub.0.4(Ge.sub.2-xTi.sub.x).sub.1.6(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LAGTP), perovskite Li.sub.3xLa.sub.2/3-xTiO.sub.3 (LLTO), Li.sub.0.8La.sub.0.6Zr.sub.2(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LLZP), Li.sub.1+xTi.sub.2-xAl.sub.x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LTAP), Li.sub.1+x+yTi.sub.2-xAl.sub.xSi.sub.y(PO.sub.4).sub.3-y (LTASP), LiTi.sub.xZr.sub.2-x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LTZP), Li.sub.2Nd.sub.3TeSbO.sub.12 and mixtures thereof.

A solid state electrolyte material including a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material including a decontaminated surface thickness. The decontaminated surface thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm. The decontaminated surface thickness may be greater than or equal to 1 nm. The decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material may be selected from the group consisting of Li.sub.7La.sub.3Zr.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLZO), Li.sub.5La.sub.3Ta.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLTO), Li.sub.6La.sub.2CaTa.sub.2O.sub.12 (LLCTO), Li.sub.6La.sub.2ANb.sub.2O.sub.12 (A is Ca or Sr), Li.sub.1+xAl.sub.xGe.sub.2-x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LAGP), Li.sub.14Al.sub.0.4(Ge.sub.2-xTi.sub.x).sub.1.6(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LAGTP), perovskite Li.sub.3xLa.sub.2/3-xTiO.sub.3 (LLTO), Li.sub.0.8La.sub.0.6Zr.sub.2(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LLZP), Li.sub.1+xTi.sub.2-xAl.sub.x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LTAP), Li.sub.1+x+yTi.sub.2-xAl.sub.xSi.sub.y(PO.sub.4).sub.3-y (LTASP), LiTi.sub.xZr.sub.2-x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (LTZP), Li.sub.2Nd.sub.3TeSbO.sub.12 and mixtures thereof.

Methods for producing proppants with a nanocomposite proppant coating are provided. The methods include coating the proppant particles with a nano-reinforcing agent, a surface modifier, and a resin to produce proppants with nanocomposite proppant coating. Additionally, a proppant comprising a proppant particle and a nanocomposite proppant coating is provided. The nanocomposite proppant coating includes a nano-reinforcing agent, a surface modifier, and a resin. The nanocomposite proppant coating coats the proppant particle. Additionally, a method for increasing a rate of hydrocarbon production from a subsurface formation through the use of the proppants is provided.

The localized formation of graphene and diamond like structures on the surface of boron carbide is obtained due to exposure to high intensity laser illumination. The graphitization involves water vapor interacting with the laser illuminated surface of boron carbide and leaving behind excess carbon. The process can be done on the micrometer scale, allowing for a wide range of electronic applications. Raman is a powerful and convenient technique to routinely characterize and distinguish the composition of Boron Carbide (B.sub.4C), particularly since a wide variation in C content is possible in B.sub.4C. Graphitization of 1-3 μm icosahedral B.sub.4C powder is observed at ambient conditions under illumination by a 473 nm (2.62 eV) laser during micro-Raman measurements. The graphitization, with ˜12 nm grain size, is dependent on the illumination intensity. The process is attributed to the oxidation of B.sub.4C to B.sub.2O.sub.3 by water vapor in air, and subsequent evaporation, leaving behind excess carbon. The effectiveness of this process sheds light on amorphization pathways of B.sub.4C, a critical component of resilient mechanical composites, and also enables a means to thermally produce graphitic contacts on single crystal B.sub.4C for nanoelectronics.

The localized formation of graphene and diamond like structures on the surface of boron carbide is obtained due to exposure to high intensity laser illumination. The graphitization involves water vapor interacting with the laser illuminated surface of boron carbide and leaving behind excess carbon. The process can be done on the micrometer scale, allowing for a wide range of electronic applications. Raman is a powerful and convenient technique to routinely characterize and distinguish the composition of Boron Carbide (B.sub.4C), particularly since a wide variation in C content is possible in B.sub.4C. Graphitization of 1-3 μm icosahedral B.sub.4C powder is observed at ambient conditions under illumination by a 473 nm (2.62 eV) laser during micro-Raman measurements. The graphitization, with ˜12 nm grain size, is dependent on the illumination intensity. The process is attributed to the oxidation of B.sub.4C to B.sub.2O.sub.3 by water vapor in air, and subsequent evaporation, leaving behind excess carbon. The effectiveness of this process sheds light on amorphization pathways of B.sub.4C, a critical component of resilient mechanical composites, and also enables a means to thermally produce graphitic contacts on single crystal B.sub.4C for nanoelectronics.

A method for fabricating a ceramic matrix composite component having a deltoid region is provided. The method includes providing a porous ceramic preform. The porous ceramic preform includes a layer-to-layer weave of ceramic fibers that forms a modified layer-to-layer woven core and at least one 2-dimensional layer of ceramic fibers that is disposed adjacent to the modified layer-to-layer woven core. The porous ceramic preform is formed into a ceramic matrix composite body having the deltoid region such that the modified layer-to-layer woven core extends through the deltoid region.

Provided are a cover-layer-including ceramic continuous fiber suitable for producing a ceramic matrix composite material that can have improved damage tolerance and a ceramic matrix composite material formed from the cover-layer-including ceramic continuous fiber. The cover-layer-including ceramic continuous fiber includes a ceramic continuous fiber and a cover layer formed of an inorganic acid salt and disposed on the surface of the ceramic continuous fiber, wherein the thickness variation coefficient of the cover layer is 80% or less.

A method of fabricating a composite material part includes injecting under pressure a slurry containing a powder of refractory ceramic particles into a fiber texture; and draining the liquid of the slurry that has passed through the fiber texture, while retaining the powder of refractory ceramic particles within the texture to obtain a fiber preform filled with refractory ceramic particles. The injection tooling includes a porous material mold including an internal housing in which the fiber texture is placed, the slurry being injected into the fiber texture via an injection port in the injection tooling and leading into the internal housing of the mold. The tooling includes a rigid material enclosure in which the porous material mold is held while the slurry is injected under pressure and while the liquid of the slurry is drained, the liquid of the slurry being discharged via a vent present in the enclosure.